Avril Khambatta Thakur President Himalayan Explores organized mass tree plantation drive in the camps of security forces (ITBPF) in the Naxal dominated Chhattisgarh at Domikala, Kohka, Pallemadi, Chilhati, Churia, Boartalao, Kanhargaon and Dongargarh.
Himalayan Explorers volunteers namely Ajay Sanghi, Sandeep Agrawal, Sharukh Cassad, Sumukh Natu, Anagha Natu, Ravi Hedao with his wife and daughter, Fr. Herald D’Souza under the leadership of Avril Khambatta Thakur participated in this drive.
All the volunteers with one thousand healthy saplings (long life tree’s like 1) Banyan, 2)Pipal, 3)Neem, 4) Jamun, 5) Mango and Guavas) gathered at Bagh Nadi and carried on to Manpur (hot bed of Naxal’s) escorted by AK-47 wielding ITBP commandos under the command of Dr. Vinod Laxminarayan Thakur the then Deputy Commandant (Vet), head of dog squad Anti Naxal Operations . The Team Himalayan Explorers travelled from one Company Operating Base to other escorted by the Mine Protective Vehicles and the quick reaction team. It was one of its kind experiences for the volunteers of Himalayan Explorers. They could not believe that the life is so scary just 200kms away from Nagpur.
These 1000 saplings were planted by the Himalayan Explorers volunteers with the help of ITBP personal. A beautiful guava orchard had come up at Chilati Company Operating Base, due to the constant effort of AC/GD Bimal Rana. Dr. Vinod Thakur the than Dy. Commandant, Anti Naxal Operations had been regularly visiting the above mentioned COB’s and reported the Himalayan Explorers of 100% survival of the planted saplings.
